Lancashire police rated 'outstanding' by inspectors amid cuts row

Lancashire was praised for "prioritising threat" while caring for the needs of vulnerable people and also meeting savings

Lancashire Police has been rated as "outstanding" just days after its chief constable warned the force would "not be viable" after 2020 because of funding cuts.

A review of police efficiency by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) praised Lancashire for keeping people safe and achieving savings.

It also questioned whether efficient forces could sustain further savings.

Since 2010, Lancashire has axed about 700 officers and 275 members of staff.

'Delivered and delivered'

Police forces have had to make substantial savings as part of public spending cuts over the past five years, and are bracing themselves for a further round.

Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw earlier revealed that proposed changes meant Lancashire would have to cut a further £24.8m on top of £74m already saved.

The HMIC report praised Lancashire for keeping "a daily focus on prioritising threat, risk and harm issues while caring for the needs of vulnerable people".

But it warned that, while some forces had achieved spending cuts, without radical changes to the way they operate, that would be "increasingly difficult" to sustain.

Lancashire's Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said he was "immensely proud" the force's work had been recognised but he was "saddened" it was "under threat" by planned cuts.

Chief Constable Steve Finnigan has warned further budget cuts could potentially see Lancashire Police becoming an "emergency only" service

He said: "It is simply unacceptable that much of the good work which is highlighted in today's report will be put at risk if the proposed cuts to our budget go ahead.

"People and communities will be more vulnerable and at risk as a result."

Mr Grunshaw added: "This is another reason why the government should take notice of what we are saying about the future cuts.

"We have delivered and delivered what we have been asked for but we can't keep taking out such huge amounts and keeping the force effective and viable into the future."

Home Secretary Theresa May said police reform was "working", adding that crime had fallen by more than a quarter since 2010.

Ms May said forces must "stop thinking simply in terms of numbers of officers" as it was "not how many officers you have but how they are deployed".

"I have no doubt the PCCs and Chief Constables of all forces will take HMIC's findings seriously and continue to reform to cut crime and save money - as the last five years has shown is possible," she added.

The report found four other forces outstanding - Cheshire, Durham, Norfolk and West Midlands.

Humberside was the only force to be graded inadequate.